Capacity

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kəˈpæsɪti/

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French capacité, from Latin capacitas, from capax ("able to hold much"), from capere ("to hold, contain").

Full definition of capacity

Noun

1. The ability to hold, receive or absorb
2. A measure of such ability; volume
3. The maximum amount that can be heldIt was hauling a capacity load.The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.
4. Capability; the ability to perform some task
5. The maximum that can be produced.
6. Mental ability; the power to learn
7. A faculty; the potential for growth and development
8. A role; the position in which one functions
9. Legal authority (to make an arrest for example)
10. Electrical capacitance.
11. (operations) The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.Its capacity rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum capacity was 200 tons per hour.

Synonyms

• throughput

Derived terms

• capacitance
• capacitation
• capacitor

Adjective

1. Filling the allotted space.There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.
• 2012, August 1. Owen Gibson in Guardian Unlimited, London 2012: rowers Glover and Stanning win Team GB's first gold medalAt an overcast Eton Dorney, roared on by a capacity crowd including Prince Harry and Prince William, the volume rose as they entered the final stages.

Related terms

• capacious